When vegetables are overflowing in your refrigerator, what do you prepare to put the produce to work? Simply roasting potatoes, parsnips and peppers with olive oil and seasonings is an option, as is enjoying squash in a soup or carrots and celery raw in green salads. But to beef up your vegetables, no matter what kinds you happen to have on hand, and turn them into a satisfying main dish, try mixing them with pasta and your favorite sauce. Instantly you’ll have transformed two humble ingredients — noodles and vegetables — into an all-in-one meal the whole family will want to eat.

Food Network Magazine does just that in its recipe for Ratatouille Pasta (pictured above) by re-creating the classic vegetable plate into an easy-to-make dinner. After grilling garlic-stuffed tomatoes, plus bell peppers, zucchini and Japanese eggplant — four quintessential ingredients in a traditional French ratatouille — until tender, chop them and gently saute them with fragrant basil before adding the cooked noodles. It’s best to reserve a cup of the pasta water before draining the noodles, as you may need to thin out the sauce before serving. For an extra-special finish to the dish, top each plate with a few crumbles of goat cheese; the tangy taste will marry the flavors of the vegetables, while the smooth, creamy texture will add welcome richness.